Guaranteed Yankee win streak with this post

This is just asking for horrible things to happen to the Red Sox, but I couldn't resist. Here's some interesting information from our friend Buster Olney from ESPN.com:

The Yankees have reached the point where they will almost require a historic comeback to make the playoffs:

• The Yankees' deficit in the division race is 14.5 games. Only one team has won a division or league with a deficit of greater than 14 games: the 1914 Boston Braves.

• The Yankees' deficit in the wild card is 8.5 games. Only four wild-card winners have overcome greater deficits than that: the '95 Yankees (who were once nine games out), the 2001 Athletics (once 10.5 games out), the 2003 Marlins (11.5 games out), and the 2005 Astros (11.5 games out).

• Only two other times have the Yankees had a larger deficit in May: 1984, when the Tigers started 35-5, the Yankees fell 17.5 games out in May; and 1913, when the Yankees were as much as 18.5 games out in May.

It's pretty much a consensus opinion at this point that Clemens isn't making his first start against the Red Sox because the Yankees are terrified of the ramifications of a bad outing, and I wouldn't do it either if I was Torre. Instead he'll face the White Sox, whose team OBP is an MLB-lowest .311. That's compared to the Red Sox MLB-best .361 - not good for Clemens (probably a 6 inning starter at best) to debut against a team who specializes in taking pitches and wearing out pitchers.